Role of mouthwash in oral care

This webinar will offer participants the presentation and the opportunity to discuss the results of FDI research on the role of mouthwash in oral care, published on a special supplement in the International Dental Journal. The speakers will unveil common myths about the use and role of mouthwashes, followed by a summary of the results of FDI’s research about the effectiveness, adverse effects, and systemic involvement, plus the affectation of the oral microbiome. Finally, the experts will briefly discuss the future directions of mouthwashes and their role. A Q&A session will take place after the presentations

The webinar will cover the topic of the role of mouthwashes in three parts:

Part I

The first part will contain information about the oral microbiome that exists as a complex community of bacteria, fungi, archaea, protozoa, and viruses in oral health. Most currently available mouthwashes are antimicrobial, ‘killing’ bacteria, and a huge range of antimicrobial mouthwashes are commercially available to successfully manage oral disease. However, antimicrobial agents may concurrently cause a ‘good’ shift towards a diverse oral microbiome predominating in bacterial species associated with health, or a ‘bad’ shift towards dysbiosis (reduced diversity and increased pathogenic species) and further disease, including resistance. This session investigates the effects of several commonly used antimicrobial mouthwashes on the oral microbiome, and asks – do the good effects outweigh the bad?

Part II

Mouthwashes purport to reduce dental plaque and thus the potential to prevent plaque-induced oral disease.  Depending on the active ingredients used, their mode of action to combat plaque varies, as does their potential effectiveness. Evidence of the effectiveness of mouthwashes in managing oral disease, including dental caries and periodontal diseases will be presented. In addition, the effectiveness of mouthwashes in tooth whitening and managing halitosis will be covered. The emerging role of mouthwashes in healthcare in general and their adjunct roles will be discussed. Known unknowns will be outlined. These findings have implications to inform practice, policy, and research.

Part III

Antimicrobial mouthwash agents are widely available.  Evidence on their antiplaque actions, whether used alone or as an adjunctive treatment to mechanical oral hygiene measures, is presented in the preceding paper.1 Alongside their potential benefits there are some, albeit limited, data that mouthwashes, like many agents, may have the potential to increase the risk of, or worsen, common systemic disorders. The present article will highlight the recent evidence on the potential association between anti-microbial mouthwash use and the risk of systemic conditions, where there is sufficient evidence to support these associations, for example diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), oral cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and pre-eclampsia.

The overall learning objectives:

• Answer common myths about the role of mouthwashes
• Understand the positive and/or negative effects of mouthwash use
• Learn about the role of mouthwashes and the affectation of the oral microbiome
• Understand potential systemic links with mouthwash use
• Discuss new developments and future directions in the world of mouthwashes

Release date: 2024-01-16 | Expiration date: 2027-01-16

This continuing education activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) and is supported by funds received from FDI World Dental Federation sponsor(s) FDI World Dental Federation.